Learning strengthens the response of primary visual cortex to simple patterns
Learning strengthens the response of primary visual cortex to simple patterns
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DOI：
10.1016/j.cub.2004.03.032
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发表时间：
2004-04-06
期刊：
影响因子：
9.2
通讯作者：
Engel, SA
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Furmanski, CS;Schluppeck, D;Engel, SA
训练可以显着提高甚至最基本的视觉任务的性能，例如检测微弱的光斑或确定酒吧的方向（有关评论，请参见[1，2]）。然而，视觉学习的神经机制仍然存在争议。改善行为的一个简单方法是通过增加响应神经元的数量或增益来增加对训练刺激的整体神经响应。这种类型的学习已经在其他感觉模式中观察到，其中训练增加了覆盖训练刺激的感受野的数量[3，4]。在这里，我们表明，视觉学习可以选择性地增加初级视觉皮层（V1）对训练刺激的整体反应。我们使用功能性磁共振成像（fMRI）来测量神经信号之前和之后的一个月的做法，在检测非常低的对比度为导向的模式。训练增加了V1的反应，相对于控制方向的平均39%，V1的变化幅度与检测性能的变化幅度适度相关。通过训练提高V1活动可能是由于对训练刺激做出反应的神经元数量增加或反应增益增加。
Training can significantly improve performance on even the most basic visual tasks, such as detecting a faint patch of light or determining the orientation of a bar (for reviews, see [1, 2]). The neural mechanisms of visual learning, however, remain controversial. One simple way to improve behavior is to increase the overall neural response to the trained stimulus by increasing the number or gain of responsive neurons. Learning of this type has been observed in other sensory modalities, where training increases the number of receptive fields that cover the trained stimulus [3, 4]. Here, we show that visual learning can selectively increase the overall response to trained stimuli in primary visual cortex (V1). We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure neural signals before and after one month of practice at detecting very low-contrast oriented patterns. Training increased V1 response for practiced orientations relative to control orientations by an average of 39%, and the magnitude of the change in V1 correlated moderately well with the magnitude of changes in detection performance. The elevation of V1 activity by training likely results from an increase in the number of neurons responding to the trained stimulus or an increase in response gain.